Aggression II

 The last post with the Master discussing aggression is just a beginning.  

What I want to stress is that the longer I play the game, the more I see movement as key to playing well and being dangerous.  Now, if I am able to move really well with little thought some day, then something else will float to the top of the pond as the "next great answer."  One could see that consistency, better overheads, etc., might become more important at some point, but you still have to be there to worry about those things.

But for now, the more I move and the earlier I can know where to move the less pressure there is on being consistent and the easier it is to put the ball away.  There are a lot of shots that linger like soft balloons over the net and if you can be there on time, you have a lot of gratifying shot choices available.  

The last post suggested that aggression was the assumption that a good shot would enable movement that would lead to a better shot.  Iterate until the point is over.

There are some complications to that simple suggestion.  The opponents are trying to do the same thing of course, so if they produce a great shot, you may well have to be conservative in positioning for the next shot.  You'll get fooled on occasion.  The opps might be unfair and lob -- imagine that, I mean, really!!

And then if your shot to start this cascade to supreme happiness is not good enough?  If so, then we want to be more defensive in position and shot selection and shot placement.  

The second shot "has to bounce rule" has taken some of the power of the serve away.  It would be nice to serve and volley, which would favor the serving side for most points.  It is wise to require the bounce, basically giving the net to the service returners.  The servers are fighting a bit of an up hill battle from the beginning.

The initial goal of the servers is to get to the net.  Drives are not going to work unless they are followed by a drop.  The key to getting up there is the drop shot.  If it's good then you can ease into an attacking mode.  This shot is vital to so much of the game after the basics are incorporated.  I think it's under appreciated in the modern literature.

One of the "errors" I see in some players is to rush the kitchen line ahead of their partner.  However, if your partner hits a good to great drop shot, then it's the proper play.  Get up there and try to poach off of the drop shot.

I always saw it as an error until recently, but it's not, if the third shot (or fifth) is a good one.  In that case it's the appropriate play.  As long as it doesn't distract partner from making a good shot.  Also note that if the drop is too high, the forward player is going get the pin cushion treatment on occasion.  A small bruise on the path to victory, one hopes...  And hopefully only a few of them.

Hmm, I might be able to sum all of this up, including the prior post, as pick your attacking spots and then go for it.  It won't work if your partner is not on the same page and looking for the same things.

To simplify it, follow any drop shot to the kitchen line.  Stamp your feet loudly, gnash teeth, crack knuckles, raise your arms in a threatening manner and give the opponents something to worry about.